PROJECT BIOMORPH (Fall 2008)
As part of my teaching assistantship at SUNY New Paltz, I developed a project to be integrated into the curriculum of this two-dimensional design class. I developed the concept based on the biological inspired art of Patricia Picconini, Eduardo Kac, and Enrique Gomez de Molina.
In my constant search of source material and art inspiration, I came upon a collection of laboratory slides from a veterinary hospital, of various parts of animals organ tissue. I had the students work individually to sketch pen and ink renderings, looking at these slides under microscope. They refined and simplified their renderings, then worked within small groups to combine these cellular structures into a composite organism.
I then had them measure out a series of six foot diameter circles, along the hallway of the Foundations department. These circles were painted an electric green with latex paint. After further refining their composite organisms in high contrast black and white, I had the students work in their groups to enlarge these renderings onto black vinyl, which was then cut out and applied directly over their respective green 'slide'.
As a final element of the installation, the students created scientific names for their organisms, as well as their habitats, intended purpose, predators and prey, which were presented as a scientific card next to each 'organism.'
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